Michael Tolosa
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Rebates for HD-DVD Owners
In case you didn't know, HD-DVD lost the high-def format war against Blu-ray a couple months ago. HD-DVD players and movie discs will cease to be made shortly this year. If you were an early adopter and find yourself stuck with soon-to-be-obsolete HD-DVD hardware and media, there may be a way to get back some of the money you spent.
If you purchased an HD-DVD player prior to February 23, 2008, you could be eligible for a rebate from the place where you purchased the player. Both Amazon and Best Buy announced plans to provide customers with $50 of store credit, if they purchased an HD-DVD player directly from them before February 23 (the date that Toshiba announced plans to end the HD-DVD format). Both stores are automatically sending these rebates to their customers (Amazon is sending emails with rebate codes, Best Buy is mailing out gift cards).
I had purchased an Xbox 360 HD-DVD player from Amazon back in September of last year and did not receive an email from them. I called customer support today, supplied them with my order info, and within an hour, a credit for $50 showed up in my account (which I promptly used to buy Blu-ray discs).
If you purchased an HD-DVD player from Amazon before 2/23/08 and haven't received an email concerning your $50 rebate, contact them through their website. It's fast and easy.
If you purchased an HD-DVD player from Best Buy and haven't received your $50 gift card by May 1, 2008, you can call 1-888-BEST-BUY to verify your eligibility. Click here for more info on Best Buy's rebate.
Other stores are running similar rebates. I've heard that you can physically trade in your HD-DVD player at Circuit City for either credit or a Blu-ray player, but could not find any info on their website. Check with the store you bought your HD-DVD player at to see if they're offering any similar type of "early adopter tax" refunds.
No Need to Splurge
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iPod shuffle: 1GB vs. 2GB Apple recently released a 2GB iPod shuffle. It's selling for $69, while the 1GB version is now $49. If you want to use an mp3 player in the gym or during workouts, the 1GB model holds more than enough songs (about 240) to keep fresh music in your ears for weeks. Skip the 2GB model and get the cheaper 1GB iPod shuffle. |
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HDTV: 720p vs. 1080p HDTVs come in two resolutions: 720p and 1080p. Don't worry if you don't know the difference between the two -- it hardly matters. While 1080p is the highest HD resolution available today, the human eye can barely distinguish between the two. If budget is a concern, go with a 720p HDTV. |
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MacBook: Pro vs. Air There's all kinds of hype about Apple's new MacBook Air. But given its lack of features compared to the 15" MacBook Pro (which costs the same), only those with a ton of disposable income would opt for the MacBook Air as a secondary machine. If you're planning to only have one laptop, go with the MacBook Pro. |
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Playstation 3: 40GB vs. 80GB When choosing which Playstation 3 console to buy, go with the cheapest one. The 80GB PS3 is an excellent machine (costing $599), but the 40GB PS3 is just as formidable and costs $200 less. Unless you're a hardcore gamer, you'll never need the additional hard drive space. Go with the 40GB Playstation 3. |
Favorite Shows Returning to TV
Now that the writer's strike is over, many of your favorite TV shows are returning to finish off the season. Some shows aren't returning until next season. Below is a list of each show and when it's returning to the airwaves. If you need to catch up on a show, click the show name to shop for the previous seasons on DVD!
| Show | Return Date | Channel |
| Lost | On Now | ABC |
| Smallville | On Now | The CW |
| Back to You | On Now | FOX |
| Two and a Half Men | March 17 | CBS |
| How I Met Your Mother | March 17 | CBS |
| The Big Bang Theory | March 17 | CBS |
| CSI: Miami | March 24 | CBS |
| Samantha Who? | Late March | ABC |
| Criminal Minds | April 2 | CBS |
| CSI: NY | April 2 | CBS |
| CSI | April 3 | CBS |
| Without a Trace | April 3 | CBS |
| My Name is Earl | April 3 | NBC |
| NUM3ERS | April 4 | CBS |
| NCIS | April 8 | CBS |
| The Office | April 10 | NBC |
| 30 Rock | April 10 | NBC |
| ER | April 10 | NBC |
| Bones | April 14 | FOX |
| Law & Order: SVU | April 15 | NBC |
| Gossip Girl | Early April | The CW |
| Desperate Housewives | Late April | ABC |
| Grey's Anatomy | Late April | ABC |
| Ugly Betty | Late April | ABC |
| Brothers & Sisters | Late April | ABC |
| House | TBD | FOX |
| Friday Night Lights | TBD | NBC |
| Heroes | Fall | NBC |
| Private Practice | Fall | ABC |
| 24 | Early '09 | FOX |
Apple TV Offers Movie Rentals
The new Apple TV allows users to rent/download standard and hi-def movies over the Internet and watch them on their widescreen televisions. No need for a computer. All you need is a free evening and a comfortable chair. Turn on the TV, browse through the Apple TV menu to find the movie you want to watch, and download it. You have 30 days to start watching the movie and 24 hours to finish the movie. Standard definition new releases cost $3.99 and older titles cost $2.99. HD versions of each cost a dollar more.
But that's not all the Apple TV offers. You can also watch or listen to podcasts from your TV, watch YouTube videos, browse photos, or synch with your computer to enjoy all of your iTunes content (music, movies, television shows, etc.).
Apple TV basically brings all of the downloadable media content formerly restricted to your computer into your living room.
With the addition of downloadable movie rentals, Apple TV makes services like Blockbuster and Netflix obsolete.
Have an Apple TV? Let us know what you think by posting a comment here or by submitting a user review!
